Apple Inc. is one of the world's largest technology companies, with annual revenue more significant than the GDP of countries, including Kenya and Tanzania combined. In 2019, the company attained an income of over 200 billion dollars, and it is one of the companies with a well-defined strategy. Apple's success did not start overnight, as it is a journey that began with Steve Jobs, a college dropout who changed the way people view computer technology. Steve Jobs was a leader and a visionary; he developed an idea into a multi-billion business. Jobs was a man that could change the world many times over. However, his successor, Tim Cook, is well-defined and more oriented than he was. Steve Jobs brought Tim Cook into the company in 1998 after his return to Apple, and since then, he enabled a business that was crushing to grow even more significantly. The leadership of Cook is seen by the company's leadership and competitive strategy in the sector. He introduced the Apple Watch, Airpods, and Siri products that have continued to increase its income even further. Apple has many products; however, this does not mean that these products are sold in the same way or in the same market. Apple's PC market differs from the iPhone market, and more importantly, the products marketing strategies differ significantly. The Mac Pro was promoted based on value and designed for experienced people who needed to build high bandwidth capabilities. Apple's mp3 player was created for music lovers who loved music but could not manage the stress of carrying CD cassettes. The Mp3 player completely redesigned how people listened to music. Likewise, Apple's first mobile phone targeted both the phone market and the iPod market. These were the people who needed their music players but could not deal with the pressure of carrying both the music player and their phones. Another factor that made the iPhone popular is that it introduced an easy-to-use mobile phone software. Apple has many other products, including the iPad and Apple Watch; however, two elements remain consistent in all these products: simplicity and differentiation. Question 1. In your opinion, why Apple totally outsource its manufacturing to Foxconn. What are Apple's key advantages in how it manages its supply chain operations?

Nike’s strategy in the sporting goods industry.Level: BusinessStrategy: Differentiation Gillette acquired Duracell because of the growth opportunities of the battery industry.Level: ?Strategy: ? In 2012, Microsoft started offering Surface, a series of touchscreen-based personal computers running the Microsoft Windows operating system designed and developed by Microsoft.Level: ?Strategy: ? The Walt Disney Company launched Disney+, an American subscription video on-demand streaming service.Level: ?Strategy: ? American Airlines acquired Trans World Airlines, one of the oldest names in American Aviation, in 2001.Level: ?Strategy: ? Google introduced its own smartphone, the Pixel, in 2016.Level: ?Strategy: ? Dell’s strategy to offer mass customization to consumers in the PC manufacturing industryLevel: ?Strategy: ? Google's foray into the Chinese market in 2006.Level: ?Strategy: ? Video streaming company Netflix’s strategy to create original shows, like “House of Cards” and “Arrested…

Do you think Stripe’s strategy of keeping things simple is a sound business plan? What impact do you think the company’s Atlas product offering will have on Stripe’s global expansion? Do you think Stripe’s agility in working with so many different businesses provides the company with a competitive advantage over big banks and credit card companies?

Discuss whether Tesla is an example of either a classic or high-end disruptive innovator, and back up your position.

5. Blockbuster - Before the advent of digital streaming, video rental stores were the place to go when you fancied a night-in watching a movie or box set. This was a new phenomenon in the 1980s as more and more people purchased home VHS players. By the time the first Blockbuster store opened in Dallas in 1985, the video rental industry was taking shape - helping to create a huge new income stream for film distributors. Over the years, Blockbuster became the industry leader, growing in size to have over 9,000 stores around the world and revenues of $5.9 billion at its peak in 2004. In the UK, it had over 4,000 stores and its blue and yellow signage was familiar sight on the high street. At the turn of the century, Blockbuster still dominated the video and DVD rental market. However, internet speeds were improving. This carried the potential to radically alter how we consume all forms of media. The idea of streaming a feature-length movie online was now a reality. Some had this…